{"id":1263,"date":"2015-04-28T10:51:09","date_gmt":"2015-04-28T15:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scarboromissions.ca\/?page_id=1263"},"modified":"2017-04-21T19:59:19","modified_gmt":"2017-04-22T00:59:19","slug":"study-guide-6-water-life-before-profit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.scarboromissions.ca\/mission-education\/study-guides\/study-guide-6-water-life-before-profit","title":{"rendered":"Study Guide #6: Water: Life Before Profit"},"content":{"rendered":"
Developed by Sharon Willan, program assistant for Scarboro Missions’ Lay Mission Office and former curriculum writer in the York Catholic District School Board, Toronto, Canada. This Guide was developed for use within the Toronto Catholic school system. However it can be adapted for other Christian users and adult educators.<\/i><\/p>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
The ideas in this unit are suggestions for both Religion and Language Arts (Grades 7-8) and English (Grades 9-12) classes. It is suggested that teachers might use the magazine as a theme in English, using the articles and websites as non-fiction reading. Some of the ideas are written specifically for Grades 11 and 12 or Grades 7-10. It is suggested that the learning expectations be taken from the provincial Ministry of Education guidelines in your own location.<\/p>\n
In the article, “Swimming in the Wider Culture”, Philippine Bishop Francisco Claver says, “Our success depends on the people of the diocese. And we are beginning to see a wider ecological consciousness. We are in our poverty, but we still have our environment. Through the Catholic schools there are some things we can preserve so the culture is not completely destroyed \u2013 so that we may swim in the wider culture but not lose the identity of our tribal culture.”<\/p>\n
Bishop Claver depends on and expects a great deal from Catholic schools. We can spend time talking about and teaching those things that preserve our culture as Canadians, as well as our Catholic identity. The water issue is a life issue and one worth teaching.<\/p>\n
Guest Editorial: “A Most Precious Gift”<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 html version<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0 pdf version<\/a> Discussion questions:<\/p>\n Guest Editorial: “A Most Precious Gift”<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 html version<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0 pdf version<\/a> Catholic social justice groups use the model See \u2013 Judge \u2013 Act in addressing issues of concern. In this model, we are asked to make observations about what we see around us. We are then asked to make a judgment or to analyze our observations against Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching. Next, we must act on what we have seen and analyzed. It is not enough to see what is going on in the world. We are called to make a difference. Today we are being called to protect the Earth’s water so that all may live.<\/p>\n The Indigenous Peoples in their Declaration on Water make observations, base their observations on God’s gift of Creation, and then call us to action.<\/p>\n Guest Editorial: “A Most Precious Gift”<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 html version<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0 pdf version<\/a> “Living Water”<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 html version<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0 pdf version<\/a> “Water: Life Before Profit”<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 html version<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0 pdf version<\/a> “A Common Good: Catholic Social Teaching speaks to the threat to water”<\/b> Excerpts from “Episcopal Conferences and Social Justice” \u2013 Reflections of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin<\/p>\n On globalization:<\/b> On poverty:<\/b> The fundamental principle of any policy for fighting poverty today is that of enhancing human capacity. People should never the objects of our development policies. They are its subjects. Subjectivity is of the essence of being human. Human beings anywhere in the world are subjects with potential. The more individuals are enabled to realise that potential the better it will be for all. Human rights must therefore be a theme which cross cuts all our social reflection and our programmes of international development. Human rights are the same for all: all have the same yearning for human rights.”<\/p>\n On the unity of the human family:<\/b> The changes that are taking place in our era of economic globalization, inspired by liberal economic vision, make it more and more difficult to identify the patterns of responsibility that should guide the process. The move from the public to the private, the dominance of economic values above all others, the inadequacy of our international structures make the governance of globalization difficult. In international relations, including trade relations, rules are important. But we should remember the basic principle that rules are there to defend the more vulnerable and to restrain any tendency towards arrogance of these who are more powerful. In many international institutions this is not the case, even where theoretically the rules are the same for all. In the free-for-all of bilateral international relations, the imbalance may be even greater. We see today a new tendency to isolation and protectionism that can lead to a weighing of the rules in favour of the relatively powerful.”<\/p>\n “The Fountain of Life”<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 html version<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0 pdf version<\/a> Supplementary reading 1:<\/b><\/p>\n Psalm 8<\/b> (The New Revised Standard Version)<\/i><\/p>\n O LORD, our Sovereign, O LORD, our Sovereign, Supplementary reading 2:<\/b><\/p>\n Excerpts from “Episcopal Conferences and Social Justice” \u2013 Reflections of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin<\/p>\n “The human family, as we know it, was given the earth and creation as its home. Humankind was entrusted with the mission of maintaining the original harmony that God gave his creation, in which the various elements were individually created and each was seen as good.”<\/p>\n “A vision of the integrity of creation will in fact produce an important corrective to our understanding of the human person, reminding humans that we did not create the world with our own hands and that we should never attempt to set ourselves up in the place of God.”<\/p>\n “The question of water would also draw us into the problem of the domination of economic values in addressing ecological questions. Certainly, market mechanisms can help us to arrive at a realistic use and sharing of resources. But there are certain realities, which are so vital for humanity and for the integrity of creation, that they require that other values than economic also be taken into consideration and considered primary.”<\/p>\n Activities:<\/b><\/p>\n Why then, do you not give thanks?<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 html version<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0 pdf version<\/a> “Swimming in the Wider Culture”<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 html version<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0 pdf version<\/a> The authors of these articles write about preserving cultures. After reading the articles, have the students answer the following questions and then discuss them in small groups or as a class.<\/p>\n If we read the story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper in the Gospel of John, we begin to understand what Jesus wants us to do in community. We also get another idea of what Eucharist is-reaching out to others in need.<\/p>\n How are we participating in Eucharist when we work in solidarity with the poor?<\/p>\n “A Blessed Gift”<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 html version<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0 pdf version<\/a> “Drinking mindfully: A group reflection on the value and wonders of water”<\/b> Websites listed in this edition<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 html version<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0 pdf version<\/a>
\nGRADES 7-12: ACTIVITY 1<\/p>\n\n
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\nWhy do I think about it? Why don’t I think about it?<\/li>\n
\nGRADES 7-12 – ACTIVITY 2<\/p>\n\n
\nRead the text together as a class. Assign questions to groups of students. Answer the following questions, writing the answers on chart paper. Post the answers on the chalkboard.<\/li>\n\n
\nGRADES 7-10 – ACTIVITY 3: ART<\/p>\n\n
\nGRADES 11, 12<\/p>\n\n
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\nGRADES 11 AND 12<\/p>\n\n
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\nGRADES 11 AND 12<\/p>\n\n
\n“In our discernment of the phenomenon of globalization we should in particular recall the very important principle stressed by Pope John Paul II in Centesimus Annus<\/i> (#39) namely, that “the economy is only one aspect and one dimension of human activity” and that “economic freedom is only one element of human freedom”. If economic life is absolutised, if the production and consumption of goods become the centre of social life and society’s only value, not subject to any other value, economic freedom looses its necessary relationship the human person, and ends up by alienating and oppressing…”<\/p>\n
\n“Poverty is the inability for people to realise their God-given potential. Fighting poverty means that we invest in human capacity, we enable people to be the people that God wishes them to be. We rejoice that they can be so, equal in dignity to us. It means that we personally feel hurt when there are others in the world who are unable to have the same opportunity to fully realise themselves as we are. Our relationship is one based on love and respect for the other as a person.<\/p>\n
\n“When God created humanity he created it as a family. From this affirmation flow the principles of common responsibility, of solidarity and of familial relationship of love that should be the true trademark of relationship between peoples. This is the fundamental principle that should guide the process of globalization. Globalization will be worthy of its name if it enhances the unity of the human family. Any form of globalization that breeds exclusion, marginalization and crass inequality does not have the right to call itself global. Globalization has to be made the synonym of inclusive. The Globalization of solidarity, the Pope notes inPastores Gregis<\/i>, is “a direct consequence of that universal charity which lies at the heart of the Gospel” (#69).<\/p>\n
\nGRADES 7-10
\n<\/b><\/p>\n
\nhow majestic is your name in all the earth!You have set your glory
\nabove the heavens.
\nOut of the mouths of babes and infants
\nyou have founded a bulwark
\nbecause of your foes,
\nto silence the enemy and the avenger.When I look at your heavens,
\nthe work of your fingers,
\nthe moon and the stars,
\nwhich you have established,
\nwhat are human beings that you are mindful of them,
\nmortals that you care for them?You made them a little lower than God.
\nand crowned them with glory and honor.You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
\nyou put all things under their feet:
\nall sheep and oxen,
\nand also the beasts of the field,
\nthe birds of the air,
\nand the fish of the sea,
\nwhatever passes along the paths of the seas.<\/p>\n
\nhow majestic is your name in all the earth!<\/p>\n\n
\n
\nGRADES 7-12Water purifies and water gives life. Each of the world’s faith traditions holds water sacred and gives it a central place in rituals. After reading the two pages, have the students write prayers of thanksgiving incorporating the traditions they have just read.<\/p>\n
\n“Privatizing Life”\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 html version<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0 pdf version<\/a>
\nGRADES 7-12<\/p>\n\n
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\nGRADES 7-10After reading this article, make a list of the ways that water is a blessing in your life. Write a short reflection paper on this blessing.<\/p>\n
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\nGRADES 7-10<\/p>\n\n
\nGRADES 7-12<\/p>\n